RSS Feed
June 15th, 2012 
biom 
by
Question by cyn1066: Tipping in Japan, Tour Guides and Bus Drivers?
I am going with a tour group to Japan, the website recommends tipping the guide and bus driver a certain amount for each day. The company even gives us little envelopes to put the tip in. As I have been researching for my trip, I am finding that tipping can cause offense. Is there an exception for tour groups? Please do not tell me about restaurants, bell boys, and taxi cabs, I already know they do not expect tips. I just need to know specifically about tour groups. Thank you.
The envelopes are to be used to give the money directly to the tour guide and driver, not to the company. I am using Go Ahead Tours which has tours around the world, so I imagine the envelopes are generic.
Best answer:
Answer by bluemoonmemory
Usually package tour escorts/drivers don't accept any customer's tipping as well as ordinary restaurants waitress and/or taxi cabs in Japan. It is not offensive if you really want to pay some with gratitude and smile anyway. Too small amount like Yen1000 would be not so appreciated though.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Posted in 
Tags: 
I’ve never heard of tipping tour guides or bus drivers in Japan. Maybe the money you put in the envelops will go to the company. They are conning you.
This sounds wrong. I know things change, but Japan has not changed THAT much. List the website and maybe we can give you a better answer.
Addenum: Just as I thought, the parent company is based in Boston, Mass., USA. As someone mentioned, the tip envelopes probably go into the company’s coffers.
Tipping is and is not done in Japan. People don’t usually give money for good service because unlike western culture, good service is part of the usual conduct of business and therefore expected. Tipping is sort of done because part of the total in your bill includes a cut for the server or person who render that service.
Tipping anyone in Japan is not proper etiquette or custom. As you already know, it is the same for restaurants, bellboys, taxi cabs, hotel front desk etc. That company is scamming you into paying more than you have to. If the tour company is American, and your tour guide is also American, than you could tip him/her.
You are being scammed. There is no tipping in Japan. Those “little envelopes” will be kept by the company that gave them to you. Cancel your trip and go with a different company.
There is a custom of gratuity in Japan.
to the servers at the Japanese Restaurants, Ryoutei.
to the servers at the Japanese Style Hotels, Ryokan.
There is no custom of tipping or gratuity at other servers.
So, your case is incredible in our understanding.
Don’t tip. I’ve been on several tours while here in Japan and nobody, I mean NOBODY, tipped. The only exception to tipping I have seen is that when playing golf, it is common to buy something at the course located concession stands for your caddie.